In the Enchanted Forest, one year ago…

"Come on, you stupid pirate, just breathe dammit!" Ruby cried out in exasperation, as she continued to pump her hands up and down over his heart, before she took a deep breath and breathed into his open mouth. He couldn't die like this! He survived three hundred years in Neverland, and now he was going to be done in by her cooking?! Oh, cruel fate!

But Ruby wasn't willing to give up on him. She knew CPR –she'd taken a course in order to meet workplace health and safety regulations at the diner—and as long as she could keep his heart beating… well, she didn't know what. Could the antidote still work?! Or was it too late once he was already dead? All she knew was that she couldn't just give up.

"One… two…. three…." She counted to herself, pumping his heart in time to her own heartbeat, despite the panic on her face. He was dead. He was DEAD! He was… alive?

She jumped back with a noise of surprise when he coughed, her eyes going wide as the cough was followed by breathing… under his own power! She put her hand on his chest, only to find that his heart was, in fact, beating by itself again! She gave a yelp of joy. "You're alive! Oh thank god," she breathed, a wide smile forming on her lips as he slowly blinked.

"What…. What the hell happened?" He murmured once he was finally able to move, lifting his head, he cast his blurry gaze towards her, blinking. His head was pounding, his heart racing, and his mouth felt uncomfortably dry. "Water," he gasped, and Ruby hastened to hand him a water skin.

"You might've… had a slight reaction to the food." Ruby clenched her teeth, looking away slightly as Hook gulped the water down.

"Reaction?" Hook quirked an eyebrow at her, wiping his mouth on his sleeve. "What, you trying to poison me?"

"No!" Ruby exclaimed with horror, only realizing belatedly that he had been joking by the way his expression changed to one of confusion.

"You poisoned me?" He repeated, his tone incredulous, and his eyes shifted to the water skin in his hand, which he tossed away as though it had suddenly burst into flames.

"Not intentionally…" Ruby bit her lip, her eyes guilty as she tried to look apologetic. "The herbs just… look alike…"

Killian stared at her, and his jaw dropped as he realized that this was no joke, and he pushed himself up into a sitting position. "I didn't bring you along so you could kill me, lass!"

"I didn't mean to!" She protested, looking scandalized by the whole thing, the last thing she wanted was another death on her hands! Another accidental one, too… this was getting to be a disconcerting trend. She sighed. "I should probably just go, before I accidentally kill you for real."

At that, Killian actually looked insulted. "As though I'm so easily done away with?" He shook his head at her incredulously, people had been purposely trying to kill him for over three hundred years and failing, he wasn't about to die at the hands of a wench in a corset who didn't even mean it. "If you're so easily driven off by the certainty of death, then perhaps it is best if you take your leave now."

Now it was Ruby's turn to get insulted. "I'm not… easily driven off!" She folded her arms over her chest stubbornly. "And if you think you can get rid of me by almost dying, you've got another thing coming, pirate!"

Killian smiled despite himself, she certainly had spirit. "Well, if you're going to be staying, you'd best figure out what we're going to have for supper, now you've ruined the rabbits."

She gave him a wide-eyed look. "You still trust my cooking?" He shrugged.

"It's about as likely to kill us as mine is," he admitted somewhat begrudgingly, and she smiled. Maybe this would work out better than she'd hoped.

In Storybrooke, present day…

Killian tried to be inconspicuous, seated at a booth in the corner of the diner, his eyes following the progress of the bubbly waitress from beneath a heavy brow. It was difficult, given that every time she emerged from behind the counter with a tray that looked like it might weigh more than a pound and half he had to fight with himself not to get up and take it away from her. Instead, he sipped at the tart black coffee that he had become accustomed to drinking in the morning (mainly because Granny had a strict policy of not serving rum before noon), and pushed his scrambled eggs around his plate with his fork absently.

He had to tell her, eventually. He knew that, objectively, in some part of his mind, he would have to be the one to tell her, because frankly, how else would she ever find out? The search for the wicked witch was going less than well, and beyond that he couldn't be sure they'd ever get their memories of the last year back… which could be a blessing, but then again….

He averted his eyes to the nearest window when he felt her eyes meet his, and he was still staring determinedly at the brick wall just beyond it when she approached his table.

"Everything okay? You've hardly touched your eggs." Ruby's smile was touched with concern, and he shook his head slightly. "Undercooked? I can get you anoth-" She was already reaching for his plate when he shook his head again, more aggressively this time.

"Actually, there's something I wanted to talk to you about." Her expression changed to one of confusion, and she withdrew her hand. "I… happened to overhear what you and your gran were talking about last night-"

"You were spying on us?" Ruby's tone went from sweet and pitiable to incredulous and offended in a second, lifting her hand to her hip.

"…That's not exactly how I'd put it-" Ruby sighed heavily, lifting her other hand to her forehead.

"Whatever." She interrupted him, rubbing her temple as though it pained her. "Look, I don't exactly want that to be public knowledge just yet, so if you could keep it to yourself, I'd appreciate it."

No sooner had she finished speaking than the front door burst open with a clatter, and in strolled a three-tiered cake made of diapers, complete with stuffed animals, rattles and baby bottles, all neatly wrapped up in cellophane and tied with a big bow. Ruby's jaw dropped, especially when the cake-on-legs finally reached a table and she was able to recognize the man carrying it: none other than Storybrooke's own Doctor Frankenstein, known for his womanizing ways, now toting baby paraphernalia around town as though eau de baby had suddenly been revealed as a new aphrodisiac.

Killian glanced from Whale, wearing a huge, expectant grin, then to Ruby, who looked utterly scandalized, petrified as she blinked at the cake, the other patrons already whispering amongst themselves. Recognizing the look in her eye, he lifted his cup toward Whale in a soft toast.

"How kind of you to bring a gift for Mary Margaret… she's not here yet, but I'm sure she'll really appreciate the gesture." He smiled innocently, watching as Whale's face fell in confusion, but as Ruby turned towards him, her expression was all gratitude, and when she smiled at him it was like the sun coming out from behind the clouds. He inclined his head, almost imperceptibly, before she turned back towards the Doctor who still seemed at a loss as to what he had done wrong.

"We haven't exactly had time for a baby shower yet, so this is great! It's really quite thoughtful," Ruby smiled graciously at Whale, and the others in the diner seemed to accept that story, going back about their own business. Killian's smile faded, however, when Ruby was followed into the back by none other than the bungling surgeon… just what did he think he was doing? That area was clearly marked 'Staff Only.'

Killian made no effort to hide the way he watched the two of them talk, his brow furrowing at the way Whale casually touched Ruby's arm, and the way she laughed at something he said. She nodded, her expression growing grave, and Killian stared at her crimson painted lips as though he might be able to read what she said. Unfortunately, lip reading was not among the pirate's considerable talents, and despite his prying eyes, he had no idea of the conversation taking place mere yards away.

"…So we can't do any DNA tests until after the baby's born?" She lifted her eyebrows, waiting months wasn't exactly her favorite option.

"Nothing I would recommend, most DNA tests are done through amniocentesis, and we only run those if there's a risk of chromosomal abnormalities or hereditary conditions. In your case, I wouldn't suggest it, because it carries a risk of miscarriage." Ruby nodded, her hand protectively clutching her belly. She didn't want to take that kind of risk… she might not know who the daddy was, but it was already her baby.

"All right… I guess in the meantime, I just get to play the guessing game." She shrugged, trying not to let her anxiety show. Whale reached out his hand to touch her elbow reassuringly.

"You know, Ruby… I'm here for you. Whatever you need, you can call me, medical or not. I want you to know you can rely on me." He spoke sincerely, and Ruby pushed her hair behind her ear a little bit awkwardly, glancing towards the towering cake of diapers.

"Yeah… I can see that." She gave a slight chuckle, lifting an eyebrow at the ostentatious present.

Whale chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah… well, I realize now that it was a bad idea, but… I just wanted you to know you had my support. I didn't want you to think you had to… you know, go it alone."

"It's a nice thought Victor." Ruby smiled, if she weren't trying to keep the whole thing quiet for the time being, she'd probably have been a whole lot more receptive of the gift. "Thank you, I do appreciate it." She said sincerely, before she smiled brightly. "Us monsters gotta stick together, right?"

He nodded, smiling more soberly. "Right you are."

Killian's knuckles were white around the handle of the coffee cup as Ruby leaned in to hug Whale, before the doctor departed, frowning slightly as he caught sight of the hostile glare Killian threw his way as he exited. He relaxed some once he was gone, setting his coffee mug down as Ruby returned to his tableside.

"What were you two talking about?" He asked immediately, and Ruby looked immediately taken aback.

"How is that any of your business?" She returned back, giving him an incredulous look. "I'm surprised you didn't just decide to eavesdrop again."

"Look, love, you have to let me explain-"

"No, I'm talking now. And while I appreciate you jumping in to cover for me earlier, I would prefer it if you could just keep what you know to yourself. It's nobody else's business until I decide it is." She interrupted him, feeling no remorse for cutting him off. Killian shot her an annoyed look, before he shrugged.

"All right, if that's what you wish darling." He agreed, and Ruby nodded, turning away brusquely and failing to notice the way the light seemed to fade from his eyes as he stood, brushing out of the diner without another word. It was clear she didn't want him around, and maybe she was better off without him. That was why she'd left in the first place, wasn't it?

He had a wicked witch to go catch.